A pilot health scheme revealed today has been hailed as a “great opportunity” to improve care in the community.

Early intervention and managing the chronically ill would be the focus for the project in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge, announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The scheme would involve an Accountable Care Organisation, where primary and secondary care are more closely integrated.

Cabinet member for health, Councillor Maureen Worby, welcomed the move.

“Devolution provides our boroughs with the opportunity to integrate approaches to commissioning and take more radical action on prevention through arrangements which will see us share financial risks and benefits,” she said.

The pilot is one of five across the capital which aims to allow health and civic leaders to begin to take control of their own affairs.

“This opportunity comes in the midst of one of the greatest resource challenges for public services,” Cllr Worby added.

“It will enable us to build on the hard work already in place to tackle the long-standing health issues faced by local people. The ACO is a great opportunity to make a difference to our local community.”

The health devolution agreement was signed by London partners, including all of London’s Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Local Authorities (LAs), the Greater London Authority; and national bodies including NHS England, Health Education England, NHS Improvement and Public Health England.

George Osborne said the move was “another crucial step in our devolution revolution and is the start of us handing over valuable healthcare power to local leaders in London.”